Electronic Health Records: Getting an EHR

The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 (ARRA) allocated $19 billion in Medicare and Medicaid incentives to eligible physicians who demonstrate the "Meaningful Use" of a certified electronic health record system.

These resources are designed for practices purchasing an EHR for the first time, or upgrading their current system.

• KLAS Research EHR Ratings
  KLAS reports represent the combined opinions of actual people from provider organizations comparing how vendors and products performed when measured against the participant's objectives and expectations.  These reports can serve as a valuable resource in researching EHRs. Updated every 6 months.
  
• Change Management in Medical Practices: Understanding Software Migrations and Promoting Success
  This MMS white paper explores how to handle the complexities of implementation and how to maintain effective communication with staff through the process.
  
• Implementing Electronic Health Records: A Checklist for Your Practice
  Provides practices with a tool to track and follow their EHR process from purchase to post-implementation.
  
• AMA EMR Checklist: 15 Questions to Ask before Signing an EMR Agreement (.pdf, 6 pages)
  A critical checklist to help reduce unwanted surprises when you engage with an EMR Vendor
  
• EHR Cost Calculator
  This spreadsheet is a tool to assist physicians in calculating the potential costs for purchasing an EHR system for their practices.
  
• Hosting and Transferring Electronic Medical Records
  Health care systems and other organizations that host electronic medical records of private practice physicians on their networks often face legal and financial questions surrounding the EMR when physicians leave the network. (.pdf, 5 pages, 132kb)
  
• Glossary
  The ARRA presents a maze of acronyms. Our glossary will help you navigate.

Incentive Program Resources

• Meaningful Use Program Overview
  Who's eligible for the incentives, what's available, and when it's available.
  
• List of Certified Vendors
  Review a comprehensive list of EHR vendors that have been officially certified for the Meaningful Use program.
  
• Meaningful Use Rules
  A non-technician's guide to the standards needed to be certified as meeting the federal government's Meaningful Use criteria.
  
• State Assistance
  The Massachusetts Regional Extension Center offers subsidized consulting services for practices seeking to have their EHRs certified under the Meaningful Use program.